Dead chick autopsy

[Ray987]

Just going to note that the chicks seem extremely small and underdeveloped for 42 days of age, which would lead me to believe that what they are eating is not sufficient to provide the nutrients they need to thrive.

Baladi cross breed grow very slowly unlike pure ones to my knowledge

 

[Ray987]

T

I have no idea if cattle feed is okay for them. Different species have different requirements. Some things could be in the food that are not good for them. Also, I don’t know the dosage of toltrazuril for chicks.

The feed is amazing for my hens I'm getting 3-4 eggs a day compared to 0-2 before I started using the feed (out of 8 hens) baladi are poor layers too so 3-4 eggs a day is considered decent

 

[Altairsky]

Could the black stuff be blood? The liver is really pale so maybe gastrointestinal hemorrhage? Caused by coccidiosis? Digested blood looks black.

 

[Ray987]

Could the black stuff be blood? The liver is really pale so maybe gastrointestinal hemorrhage? Caused by coccidiosis? Digested blood looks black.

Pale liver could be due to antibiotics? Not sure about the black stuff

 

[Perris]

Dose

I did correct dosage as described on each medicine, this is actually a vets description on how to protect against coccidia and the antibiotics+vitamins to support growth they said, however you could be right, Perhaps I should get vitamins without the antibiotics? And what about coccidia? Does toltrazuril have any side effects? I can't seem to protect my chicks from coccidia without giving them either amprolium or toltrazuril although they're on ground at their first week

this is the advice I follow
https://www.nadis.org.uk/disease-a-...rmyard-poultry/part-3-control-of-coccidiosis/
in particular, the bit that says "Day old chicks do not get immunity from their mother. Birds of any age are susceptible, but most acquire infection early in life which gives them some immunity. Immunity is best kept strong by a low level of infection, which is what happens on free-range. "

 

[Sic]

Should i give them Castor oil or how can i help? They're about to die please help

Judging by this photo, the chicks have plentiful grit available to them. Grit is not the problem. But I'll say this again, in my opinion this chick doesn't look 45 days old and if they are, they look malnourished.

My chicks - one in the back is a faster maturing breed and is 27 days old. The one in the front is a very slow maturing breed and is 31 days old. There is virtually no difference between them at this age...

I have no idea about the causes of a pale liver in a bird so young, except nutritional deficiency of biotin, though I'm sure there are other causes. I do hope you can find out what is wrong and remedy it before you lose more.

 

[coach723]

For future reference, toltrazuril dose is by body weight, dosing is here, in post #96:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ood-cocci-kills.1258947/page-10#post-20206171
This is a link to an article that discusses various reasons for color changes in the liver, most of which have been suggested as possibilities here:
https://www.agrimprove.com/main-causes-of-changes-in-liver-coloration-in-poultry/
I personally think that the highest likelihood is either a toxin (something they found in the environment or something in the feed), or a deficiency in the feed. But without a way to get a necropsy or some testing, there is no way to know for sure.
I thought they looked too small/underdeveloped also, but I am not familiar with that breed.

 

[Ray987]

Judging by this photo, the chicks have plentiful grit available to them. Grit is not the problem. But I'll say this again, in my opinion this chick doesn't look 45 days old and if they are, they look malnourished.

My chicks - one in the back is a faster maturing breed and is 27 days old. The one in the front is a very slow maturing breed and is 31 days old. There is virtually no difference between them at this age...
View attachment 3927968

I have no idea about the causes of a pale liver in a bird so young, except nutritional deficiency of biotin, though I'm sure there are other causes. I do hope you can find out what is wrong and remedy it before you lose more.

I can't disagree about them not having proper nutrition but it's how it works over here believe it or not, I've checked neighborhoods chicks growth ratio it's similar, Baladi chicks are raised differently and grow slowly, they don't lay eggs till 9+ months due to that, finding good feed over here is the ultimate challenge and I've been thinking about buying the machine to grind and my own feed recipe but I can't seem to figure the formula yet hopefully one day I'll be able to provide proper chick starter for my chicks

 

[Perris]

I can't disagree about them not having proper nutrition but it's how it works over here believe it or not, I've checked neighborhoods chicks growth ratio it's similar, Baladi chicks are raised differently and grow slowly, they don't lay eggs till 9+ months due to that, finding good feed over here is the ultimate challenge and I've been thinking about buying the machine to grind and my own feed recipe but I can't seem to figure the formula yet hopefully one day I'll be able to provide proper chick starter for my chicks

The grass may seem greener on the other side of the fence, but it is not necessarily so. Commercial feed is not better than you can find and make yourself from local foodstuffs. You might find this useful for guidance
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...eat-tears-a-calculator-or-deep-pockets.78655/

 

[LaFleche]

To me it looks as if they ate some rodent poison while free ranging.

I am very sorry for your losses.